CANNON, "EL PADRE:/ MADE; BY MEXICAN REVOLUTIONISTS PROM OLD BELLS SHOWN 



IN THE PRECEDING PICTURE 



luminous substance. When roused, the 

 insect seems perfectly saturated by this 

 luminous secretion. 



Four of these fireflies will throw a 

 fairly brilliant light, by which the pages 

 of a newspaper may be read. They fly 

 only after dark, and resemble fiery drag- 

 ons sweeping through the air, carrying 

 lanterns. The Indians use them as min- 

 iature torches ; the men fasten them to 

 their ankles in going through the forest, 

 and the women wear them in their hair 

 under a thin gauze veil. 



Tiny little cages are constructed in 

 which three or four are kept for lighting 

 purposes. The insects congregate by the 

 thousands in many forest trees, and, as 

 if by a preconcerted agreement, simul- 

 taneously flash their lights, then darken 

 them and flash them again. 



CURIOUS INDIAN POODS 



The Indians of Mexico eat many cu- 

 rious foods. One of the most remark- 

 able of these is made of the eggs of a 

 species of marsh fly. This fly deposits 

 its eggs in incredible quantities upon flags 

 and rushes. These eggs are gathered and 



made into cakes which are sold in the 

 markets. These little cakes are some- 

 what like brickbats, and the Indians en- 

 joy a meal of them with as good a 

 stomach as white people enjoy cheese. 

 They call the eggs water-wheat. They 

 resemble fine fish roe, and when mixed 

 with corn meal and fowl eggs form a 

 staple article of diet, particularly during 

 Tent. 



The insects themselves, which are 

 about the size of a house-fly, are cap- 

 tured, pounded into a paste, boiled in 

 corn husks in much the same fashion as 

 tamales, and in this form are eaten. 



The Indians have a systematic method 

 of cultivating their water-wheat. They 

 plant bundles of reeds a few feet apart, 

 with their tops sticking out of the water. 

 On these the insects deposit their eggs. 

 The reeds are then removed and the eggs 

 shaken off on a sheet. 



MEXICO CITY 



In all the world one cannot find a more 

 remarkable capital than Mexico City. 

 Situated in a valley whose floor is a mile 

 and a half above the level of the sea, and 



485 



